Zach Shallcross got COVID and had to do the first ever virtual cocktail party and rose ceremony on Monday’s episode of The Bachelor on ABC.
The 26-year-old sales rep was emotional when host Jesse Palmer, 44, made it clear that the final rose ceremony had to be virtual.
‘This week was robbed of them,’ Zach tearfully said.
Zach ultimately handed out roses virtually through a monitor with the women walking up to the table and picking up their own rose. He told them he was upset that he couldn’t be in the room with them.
‘I would literally do anything to get out of this room and to be there with you,’ Zach said. ‘ It’s pretty f***ing aggravating.’
Virtual reality: Zach Shallcross got COVID and had to do the first ever virtual cocktail party and rose ceremony on Monday’s episode of The Bachelor on ABC
When the season 27 episode started there were 11 women remaining on the show in London. A date card arrived in their room for Gabi Elnicki, 25, an account executive from Pittsford, Vermont, and read ‘You’re my Queen, Zach.’
Zach waited downstairs for her by a chauffeur- driven Rolls-Royce.
‘My chariot awaits me,’ Gabi said.
Zach planned the ultimate royal experience for her. He took her first to Floris, a perfumery that has made scents for the royal family, and they created their own perfume.
‘This could be a scent that we wear on our wedding day,’ Gabi said in a confessional.
Next, they met Royal Butler Grant Harrold who made them the late queen’s cocktail and brought in Corgis for them to play with from the royal bloodline. Gabi then tried on gowns for Zach.
‘She’s like a queen,’ Zach said when Gabi tried on a long blue dress.
They also had tea time together as they continued to get to know each other.
Remote roses: The 26-year-old sales rep later handed out roses remotely as he remained quarantined
Bad news: Show host Jesse Palmer, 44, made it clear to Zach that the final rose ceremony had to be virtual
Getting emotional: Zach fought back tears after learning he could not attend the rose ceremony in person
Remote ceremony: The woman walked up to a monitor as Zach remotely offered roses
Gabi arrived back at the hotel carrying shopping bags and showed the women her new Jimmy Choo shoes, diamond earrings and perfume.
‘I am jealous,’ said Kylee Russell, 25, a postpartum nurse from Charlotte, North Carolina, in a confessional. ‘I just don’t see how that’s fair. I don’t even remember the last time a man has bought me a meal let alone a pair of Jimmy Choos.’
There was a knock on the door and it was Gabi’s blue dress with a card from Zach saying that she had given him butterflies.
Greer Blitzer, 24, a medical sales rep from Houston, stormed out of the room upset. She sat in a hallway crying. Charity Lawson, 26, a child and family therapist from Columbus, Georgia, went to console her. Greer said she was upset because she had told Zach how important tea was to her and even had a tea cup tattooed on her hand.
Gabi walked by carrying all her goodies and dress and told Greer that she was sitting in front of the door to her room.
‘That was torture,’ Greer said.
Later that night, Gabi changed into her blue ball gown and met Zach. Zach told her it blew his mind how she made every situation ‘fun and effortless.’
‘You make me feel so safe and seen without even trying,’ Gabi said.
Royal scents: Zach took Gabi first to Floris, a perfumery that has made scents for the royal family, and they created their own perfume
Gorgeous gown: Gabi then tried on gowns for Zach and he admired her in a blue dress
Dinner date: Later that night, Gabi changed into her blue ball gown and met Zach
Zach gave her a rose and they kissed. Zach walked her to a room where UB40 performed a private concert for them singing their hit song Can’t Help Falling In Love.
‘He’s the kind of person I want to be with,’ Gabi said to the camera. ‘He’s my king.’
Back at the hotel, the group date card arrived and it was for Greer, Kylee, Brooklyn Willie, 25, a rodeo racer from Stillwater, Oklahoma ; Kaity Biggar, 27, an ER Nurse from Austin; Katherine ‘Kat’ Izzo, 26, a registered nurse from Tampa, Florida; Aly Jacobs, 26, a healthcare strategist from Atlanta; Ariel Frenkel, 28, from New York City; Jess Girod, 23, an e-commerce coordinator from Winter Springs, Florida; and Mercedes Northrup, 24 a non-profit owner from Bloomfield, Virginia. Charity did not get picked, which meant she would get a one-on-one date with Zach.
‘I’m giddy right now,’ Charity said in a confessional. ‘I feel so good.’
‘I didn’t get the one-on-one I’m going to hyperventilate,’ Mercedes said as she left the room crying.
The next day, the women got ready for their group date with Zach. Right when they were about to leave, however, a card from Zach arrived announcing he was ‘a little under the weather.’
‘I feel annoyed,’ Kylee said in a confessional. ‘You weren’t too sick to stay up all night with Gabi. You’re not going to be too sick to go on a one-on-one with Charity tomorrow.’
The women boarded a double-decker bus and were upset they weren’t exploring London with Zach. Zach was in his room and said he felt jet-lagged and run down.
Rose accepted: Zach gave Gabi a rose and they kissed
Group date: The women embarked on the group date without Zach
‘I wish I could be with them right now,’ Zach said. ‘Hopefully this passes and I’ll be ready for tonight.’
The women went to a pub and were hopeful that Zach would join them later.
‘I’m a nosey cow and it’s my boozer, good looking girls what are you up to?’ asked the bartender.
They told her that they were all dating the same guy, but he was under the weather.
‘He must be some looker,’ the bartender said.
The women crowded into a phone booth and then went to a fish and chip shop and continued their tour of the city.
At night, the women changed into their cocktail attire, but then they were told that Zach still did not feel well.
‘I hate that he doesn’t feel good,’ Brooklyn said. ‘But selfishly I feel stood up and it really hurts. And I can see the hurt on y’all. I’m honestly at this point too pissed off to cry.’
Really hurts: ‘I hate that he doesn’t feel good,’ Brooklyn said. ‘But selfishly I feel stood up and it really hurts. And I can see the hurt on y’all. I’m honestly at this point too pissed off to cry’
The next morning, Charity got ready for her date but then Jesse walked in and told them that Zach tested positive for COVID.
‘When Zach got the results, he was absolutely crushed to lose that type of quality time with you all at this stage of the journey, that is Zach’s worst nightmare,’ Jesse said.
Charity started crying. Kaity was worried about Zach being all alone and brought him a gift basket to make him feel better. She knocked on his door and told him she hadn’t stopped thinking about him.
‘I see a future with you,’ Kaity said.
‘I want you to know that I have so much confidence in us,’ Zach said.
Kaity walked away and Zach opened the door and pulled the gift basket inside his room.
Later, Jesse walked into the women’s room and informed the women that because of Zach’s condition they were going to hold their first ever virtual cocktail party and virtual rose ceremony.
Each of the women went one at a time into a room to have their individual screen time with Zach. Charity went first and felt reassured talking to Zach on a tablet. Kat asked Zach if he wanted to virtually ‘snog’ during their one-on-one.
Screen time: Each of the women went one at a time into a room to have their individual screen time with Zach
‘I miss all the women so much,’ Zach said during a confessional.
Greer and Zach didn’t really connect during their chat when she compared his frustration with not being able to see the women due to COVID to when she had COVID during a crucial period of her job at the end of a sales quarter.
She broke down crying later.
‘He was offended,’ Greer said. ‘I feel like I insulted him.’
At the final rose ceremony, Zach gave roses to Kaity, Charity, Aly, Kat, Brooklyn, Jess, Ariel, and gave the last rose to Greer.
Kylee and Mercedes did not get roses.
They walked up the screen and said goodbye to Zach. Zach told the remaining women that he couldn’t wait to continue the journey with them.
The Bachelor will return next Monday on ABC.
Bad connection: Greer and Zach didn’t really connect during their chat when she compared his frustration with not being able to see the women due to COVID to when she had COVID during a crucial period of her job at the end of a sales quarter
Tears flowing: The virtual conversation rattled Greer who felt like she insulted Zach
Final rose: Zach gave the last rose to Greer
Journey continues: Zach told the remaining women that he couldn’t wait to continue the journey with them
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